Starting off healthy

Righthander Chris Sampson, who had right elbow surgery in October, is the only Astros pitcher who is expected to start behind when the club holds the first workout for pitchers and catchers today. Geoff Geary, who had surgery on a sports hernia in October, is expected to start with the club on schedule.

“On flat ground and mechanical stuff, I’ll be able to do everything,” said Sampson, who says athletic trainer Nathan Lucero told him it likely will be at least 10 days before he can throw bullpen sessions.

Added Astros manager Cecil Cooper: “At this point and time, we don’t have any (health concerns). Sampson should be ready to roll. He might be a tad behind. From what I understand, maybe the second week he’ll be ready to start throwing some pens and stuff like that because I think he’s throwing like 60-90 feet or something right now.

“So he’ll be a little bit behind, but other than that apparently Geary is fine. So it’s just a matter of us just getting out and going. You know you’re going to have problems.

“You’re going to have some soreness here and things that are going to happen, because it always happens every spring. But going in, there’s none that you’re going to say well this guy is way, way behind. It shouldn’t happen.”

All hands on deck

The Astros expect all of their pitchers and catchers to participate today in the club’s first workout at Osceola County Stadium.

“I talked to (general manager) Ed (Wade) about it a little bit, and we anticipate all of them being here,” Astros manager Cecil Cooper said. “And from what I understand I just walked in there and saw two veteran guys already.”

Two sign contracts

Bogusevic, 24, is a former lefthanded pitcher the Astros took in the first round of the 2005 draft. He salvaged his minor league career last season when he was switched to the outfield, and he hit .371 (46-for-124) with 20 RBIs and three home runs over 42 games at Class AA Corpus Christi.

De La Vara, 24, was taken in the Rule 5 draft from the Kansas City Royals. He split time between Class A Wilmington and Class AA Northwest Arkansas last season, going 6-3 with a 3.27 ERA over one start and 44 relief appearances.